First-year Virginia Union University women’s basketball coach AnnMarie Gilbert didn’t have to search far to find one of her assistant coaches.

It’s her husband, Jonathan Walker, a former VUU standout guard.

“We’ve always been very supportive of each other, but we’ve never worked together,’ said Coach Gilbert. “I think it is going to be awesome.”

Walker, who previously coached at Cuyahoga Community College near Cleveland, will serve on a volunteer basis.

The Panthers’ full-time assistant is Jasmine Young, a former Monacan High School and East Carolina University star. Young was most recently assistant coach at Powhatan High School.

Coach Gilbert has been active on the recruiting front.

A touted Panthers’ newcomer will be 5-foot-7 Kiana Johnson, a three-year starter at Michigan State University before sitting out last year.

Johnson averaged 8.4 points and six assists for the Big 10 Spartans in 2013-14. She will have one year of eligibility at VUU.     

Another signee is 5-foot-9 Jamica Ruffin from Lenoir Community College in North Carolina. Ruffin has two seasons of VUU eligibility.

Coach Gilbert has verbal commitments from guards Zana Godoy and Ashley Smith from Hartford Community College in Connecticut.

Smith averaged 16.6 points and Godoy 8.6 points this past season.

In April, Coach Gilbert was named to succeed departing coach Barvenia Wooten-Cherry, whose five-year record was 48-95.